Virgin Bet Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Abram Hurdle) (Fillies' & Mares' Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 52.75s

Current Mood⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 129

5/2

Dual 3m point scorer who won her first 2 starts over hurdles in good style during the autumn. Limitations perhaps exposed in Graded company at Cheltenham but return to this trip will suit.

Form: 12-1134

Nina The Terrier²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: A King| OR: 133| BF| D

11/10

Bumper winner who completed hat-trick over hurdles in novice company at Newbury last month. Probably booked for second in a listed race back at that venue 3 weeks ago and she sets the standard.

Form: 54-111F

Haute Estime²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113

11/1

Stoutly bred but showed plenty of speed as she left her bumper form behind when making a winning start in this sphere at Kelso. Bit disappointing here a month ago but is now upped in trip.

Form: 24-314

Mayhem Mya³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Honour

15/2

Won first 2 starts in bumpers and far from disgraced in better company, fourth on reappearance in listed company at Cheltenham last month despite pulling hard. Pitched in quite deep on hurdles bow.

Form: 113-4

Miss Milano²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards

16/1

Closely related to bumper winner Mcgregor's Cottage. Promising start when third at Ayr 4 weeks ago and she's open to progress, but this is a tough assignment.

Form: 3

Russian Rumour²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: J G Portman| D

14/1

Fair stayer on the Flat and landed a bit of a gamble on hurdles debut at Lingfield (19.5f) 3 weeks ago. This asks a different question.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

Sashenka³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: M Scudamore J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Nina The Terrier (11/10), Current Mood (5/2), Sashenka (7/1), Mayhem Mya (15/2), Haute Estime (11/1), Russian Rumour (14/1), Miss Milano (16/1)

NINA THE TERRIER would probably have finished second in this grade at Newbury had she negotiated the last hurdle 3 weeks ago, and given time to recover from that, she is the one to beat. Current Mood is second choice on form but she checked out pretty tamely at Cheltenham just 7 days ago, so Haute Estime is offered for the forecast now up in trip.